Johannesburg – The Hawks police unit is investigating a report of a murder plot against North West ANC politician Patrick Chauke.

“We can’t talk more about it. We can only confirm that we received the report and we are looking into it,” spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said on Monday.

The Sowetan newspaper reported that it had obtained a recording in which Dan Selebano, social development media liaison officer, is heard talking about the need to “stop” Chauke.

Chauke is a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in the North West.

In the conversation with a woman, who he was apparently recruiting to be part of the plot against Chauke, Selebano said he was willing to pay for the “mission”.

“It’s only that, one, this man [Chauke] is enjoying what he is doing in destroying people, even politically, he’s very involved. And somebody has to stop him. Like he is saying dilo tse di bua chelete (these things mean/require money). If it meant paying for the mission I would,” Selebano was quoted as saying.

Chauke said the recording showed Selebano had been briefed to work out a plot to eliminate him.

“It is clear that he is prepared to implement what he has said,” Chauke said.

“If I’m going to wait for a formal meeting to brief people, it may lead to me dying. That’s why I must take it up with the police. I view this as a serious threat.”

Selebano had reportedly admitted it was his voice on the recording and was adamant Chauke “must be stopped”.

“I am not ashamed to say that. I meant that the man must be called to order because he was out of order.”

When asked what he meant by payment for the “mission”, Selebano said he was talking about petrol money because he did not use a government car, the newspaper reported.

Sapa

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius have filed an appeal in a South African court against bail restrictions imposed on the Olympian, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, according to papers released by the Pistorius family on Monday.

“The conditions appealed against are unwarranted and not substantiated by the facts,” said the appeal, which was filed Friday in Pretoria, the South African capital.

The appeal reflected the robust defence strategy of lawyers for Pistorius, who has been staying at his uncle Arnold’s home in a Pretoria suburb since he was released on bail on Feb. 22.

It is a delicate balance because the Pistorius family has also sought to keep a low profile, expressing sorrow for the death of Reeva Steenkamp on Feb. 14. Pistorius says he mistakenly shot Steenkamp, thinking she was an intruder in his home. Prosecutors believe he killed her intentionally after an argument.

The Associated Press received a copy of the court papers by email from representatives of the Pistorius family. The appeal was prepared by Ramsay Webber, a legal firm based in Johannesburg.

In the papers, lawyers for the double-amputee athlete argued against the requirement that he surrender all passports and travel documents, and refrain from applying for such documents pending the end of his case.

The lawyers said evidence presented at the athlete’s bail hearing showed he is not a flight risk and should have the option of travelling outside South Africa as long as he has official permission.

For more details go to www.cbc.ca

BY Obakeng Maje

Kuruman- Police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property after a Standard Bank ATM was blasted this morning at 02:30 at Kuruman in Livingston Street next to the BP garage.

Police said that suspects allegedly used explosives to bomb the ATM.

“A white Inyati minibus were spotted prior to the explosion with two African males inside in the fraternity where the crime scene happened” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

“No money was stolen from the ATM and the Forensic Investigators as well as the Explosive Unit attended the crime scene” Cloete said.

No suspects were arrested yet and the police investigation continues.

Anybody with information can contact the Kuruman Police Station at the following number 053-712 9831.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

BY Obakeng Maje

Cape Town-Tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Qualifier between South Africa and the Central African Republic (CAR) are already on sale.

The match will take place on Saturday, 23 March 2013 at the Cape Town Stadium.

Kickoff is at 20h15.

Tickets are on sale for R100 for the West and East lower stand, and R50 for the North and South stands.

They can be purchased at Computicket outlets and Shoprite, Checkers and Shoprite/Checkers stores countrywide.

Johannesburg – Nelson Mandela, who spent a night in hospital at the weekend for a medical checkup, is doing well but has memory lapses, a close friend said on Monday.

Renowned human rights lawyer George Bizos, who defended Mandela during his 1960s treason trial, said that while the 94-year-old is aware of currents political events, he forgets at times that his fellow anti-apartheid activists are dead.

“Unfortunately he sometimes forgets that one or two of them had passed on and has a blank face when you tell him that Walter Sisulu and some others are no longer with us,” Bizos told Eyewitness News in an interview published on Monday.

Sisulu, the former leader of the ANC who was Mandela’s political mentor, died nearly a decade ago.

Bizos, who has been friends with Mandela since the 1940s, paid a visit to the Nobel Peace Prize winner at his Johannesburg home just over a week ago.

“I saw him about 10 days ago. He looked okay,” said Bizos.

Mandela was on Saturday admitted into hospital for “a scheduled medical check-up to manage the existing conditions in line with his age”, the presidency said.

The hospitalisation came less than three months after he was treated for a lung infection and gallstones.

Bizos represented Mandela and other leading anti-apartheid activists including Sisulu and Govan Mbeki, during the infamous 1960s Rivonia Trial that saw Mandela sentenced to life in prison. – Sapa-AFP

Orlando Pirates midfielder Thulasizwe Mbuyane is likely to join Sifiso Myeni and Rooi Mahamutsa on the sidelines for a lengthy spell after getting injured in the Soweto Derby on Saturday.

Pretoria – Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius have filed an appeal in court against bail restrictions imposed on the Olympian, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, according to papers released by the Pistorius family on Monday.

“The conditions appealed against are unwarranted and not substantiated by the facts,” said the appeal, which was filed on Friday.

The appeal reflected the robust defense strategy of lawyers for Pistorius, who has been staying at his uncle Arnold’s home in Pretoria since he was released on bail on February 22.

It is a delicate balance because the Pistorius family has also sought to keep a low profile, expressing sorrow for the death of Reeva Steenkamp on February 14. Pistorius says he mistakenly shot Steenkamp, thinking she was an intruder in his home. Prosecutors believe he killed her intentionally after an argument.

The appeal was prepared by Ramsay Webber, a legal firm based in Johannesburg.

In the papers, lawyers for the double-amputee athlete argued against the requirement that he surrender all passports and travel documents, and refrain from applying for such documents pending the end of his case.

The lawyers said evidence presented at the athlete’s bail hearing showed he is not a flight risk and should have the option of traveling outside South Africa as long as he has official permission.

For more details go to www.iol.co.za

Kimberley, Griquatown – A 16-year-old boy accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm pleaded not guilty to three murder charges in the Kimberley High Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Hannes Cloete put five charges to the boy one by one.

The boy pleaded not guilty to all. They include a charge of rape and one of defeating the ends of justice.

The State confirmed that a Child Court was in session, which was confirmed by the boy’s lawyer, Willem Coetzee. He submitted there was no plea explanation.

Earlier, Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo allowed journalists from Media 24, Independent Newspapers, Central Media Group, SABC, and Sapa to be in court during the proceedings.

Cases involving minors are usually held in camera. The boy’s trial was expected to start on Monday. He may not be identified.

The teenager was arrested for the murders of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14. They were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griquatown, on April 6, 2012. – Sapa

The government has confirmed that South Africa’s consul-general in Shanghai has been recalled “for health reasons”, following reports that he was found walking naked in a street near his office in China’s commercial capital about three months ago.

The appointment of Lassy Chiwayo – a former mayor of Mbombela in Mpumalanga – had been terminated and he was back in South Africa receiving treatment, Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said on Sunday.

The Sunday World newspaper reported that Chiwayo had been recalled because he had “tainted South Africa’s reputation” by walking naked through the Shanghai streets near the consulate-general offices and assaulting South Africa’s ambassador to China, Bheki Langa, at a reception in Beijing.

The paper quoted Chiwayo as strongly denying these allegations and insisting that he had merely been reassigned to duties back in South Africa in the normal course of events.

But Monyela was adamant that Chiwayo’s posting in Shanghai had been terminated and he was in South Africa receiving treatment for “health-related challenges”.

For more details go to www.iol.co.za